Need appetizer
 

I need to bring an appetizer for New Year's Eve. Need it to be simple, but delicious. Thanks everyone!

Hi Sandra,

I am sending you a cheese ball recipe which is different but delicious. I am not sure you would consider it an "appetizer" but it is especially good with the thicker pretzel sticks to use as a "dipping tool" rather than crackers. Although crackers work as well. Hope it helps as an "idea" for your gathering.

CHEESE BALL
 16oz cream cheese, room temp
 2 cups cheddar cheese
 3 tbsp minced onion
 3 tbsp salsa
 1 tsp ground cumin
 2 cups nacho cheese chips, crumbled
 top of 1 bell pepper for stem garnish
Combine ingredients; form into ball; place in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Before serving, roll in crumbled nacho chips.
Serve with chips, pretzels, or vegetables

I failed to remove the "bell pepper" ingredient. You use that if you want to use it for a Fall cheeseball and adding the top of the bell pepper makes it look like a pumpkin, since the Nacho chips are orange in color.

Here's one that's simple, looks super and tastes great.

Make a batch of carmelized onions.

Buy a package of 10" wraps, preferable a "colored" flavored one, like spinach or tomato. Spread alouette herbed cheese or the like on the wraps. Layer romaine lettuce, smoked turkey, precooked crumbled bacon and the onions. Roll up. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Cut into 1 1/2" slices and arrange on a plate. They look so special!

Wheel of brie, slather caramel sauce on the top and sprinkle liberally with chopped pecans or pistachios. Takes 5 minutes, if you go slowly. Leave at room temperature for a couple of hours to soften the brie. Slice up a baguette to smear it on. Crowd pleaser.

I take nutty grapes alot to parties. Always a hit! You need a bag of green grapes, toothpicks, 1 bag of carmels & dry roasted peanuts. Grind the peanuts so they are small pieces but not too fine. Unwrap the carmels, melt in the microwave til creamy adding 1 tablespoon of milk to make it thinner. Then stick the toothpick in the grape, dip the bottom half of grape in carmel then in roasted peanuts and stand them on wax paper until set. Place in frig until ready to use.
I use half a bag of carmels, a few crushed peanuts and get about 60 out of it. You do have to reheat the carmel to keep it runny occassionally. A bitesize snack that is somewhat healthy!!! My sister has used carmel ice cream topping & it works as well.

Shrimp Scampi Dip
 

I have made this several times and it is a big hit

Shrimp Scampi Dip
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 pound shrimp, shelled, deveined and coarsely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• juice of one lemon
• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded
• 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated

Directions
1. Heat the butter in a pan over medium heat and add the shrimp and cook until it just turns pink.
2. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, cook until fragrant, about a minute, and set the shrimp aside.
3. Add the wine and lemon juice and simmer to reduce by half.
4. Mix the shrimp, pan sauce, cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, mozzarella and parmesan pour it into a 2+ cup baking pan.
5. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until golden brown on top and bubbling on the sides, about 15-20 minutes.

8 oz cream cheese
1 jar pepper jelly
Put block of cream cheese in center of serving plate. Pour jelly over top.
Add a small knife and a basket of crackers. Our DIL makes pepper jelly
but it can be purchased too.

If you like pickled beet eggs try pickled beet deviled eggs. You can do the pickled beet eggs 2-3 days ahead then turn them into deviled eggs. Colorful and flavorful at the same time. I like to use cream cheese (room temp) to the regular deviled egg mixture. Up to you!

I usually take meatballs in my slow cooker. You can buy them frozen .Google the sauce....most are very easy. Italian,barbecue......any sauce you like.Most ppl love meatballs.

Pickle Wrap dip, it was a hit at the last party I attended. Google has many recipes to choose from. I do recommend the version using Budding Corned Beef vs ham. Have fun!

I just had to make one and decided on bacon wrapped smokie links, in the crock pot. For a 5 QT slow cooker I used
2 lbs bacon cut into 3 equal pieces (open package and cut while it is still together makes it easy)
3 packages smokie links or small cocktail wieners.
wrap a piece of bacon around a link, secure with toothpick and put into cooker
when you have a layer sprinkle brown sugar on top and small amount of BBQ sauce
keep adding layers. Run slow cooker 4 hours on low.

Can't tell you how many times I have made this...people love it!

Taco dip

In 9x13 dish or large platter

Layer #1 - 2 cans bean dip found in potato chip isle .

layer #2- 8 oz. sour cream mixed with 1 pkg of taco seasoning mix

layer #3- 1 can of olives, chopped

layer#4- chopped tomatoes

layer #5- 1 large pkg cheddar cheese

Serve with taco chips. Some people add chopped onions, guacamole, etc. but I go with what I listed. Your choice.

Here's an easy one that's tasty. Take flour tortillas and spread with cream cheese. Place a spear of pickled asparagus, (or a thin slice of a dill or kosher pickle) on the tortilla. Roll up, slice about 1-2" thick. Place a toothpick on the rollup. You can spear an olive with the toothpick if you want. Sometimes I place thin slices of black forest ham on the cream cheese, then the asparagus (or pickle). Quick, easy, good.

It doesn't get any easier or more delicious than this
http://www.kraftcanada.com/recipes/h...hoke-dip-85812

You can use anything to dip with including pita wedges, crostini, ect....
Also can use regular mayo.

Of course if you are keeping track of calories or fat intake, you may want to back away from the dish.....

i also do meatball add 1 jar of grae jelly and 1 bottle of chili sauice

I just had these at an art meeting. They were wonderful. I noticed the folks kept needing to go to the back of the room and just "happened" to go by the crock pot they were in.

Buy a package of "little smokies" sausages, a pond of bacon, and some round toothpicks.
cut the bacon in three equal lengths before removing it from the tray, wrap a piece of bacon around the smokie, and secure it with a toothpick. Lay them out on a baking sheet, and after they are all lined up but not touching, put a pinch of brown sugar on top of each one (or use a couple drops of real maple syrup). Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Move to paper towels to finish draining. Serve warm.

My MIL made an appetizer with wafer sliced meats that was always a hit. She used room temperature cream cheese, spread it on the wafer meats one piece at a time, rolled them up and put them in the refrigerator for a couple hours to get solid again. When she took them out, she poked toothpicks into the rolls leaving enough room between them to slice them into bite size pieces. She lay them on a pretty plate with a paper doily, and sprinkled them with paprika. Look really neat if you use meats that are different colors.

Just don't forget to set out a small receptacle for the used toothpicks. (If you don't remember a receptacle you will find toothpicks left in odd places, even among the most particular friends...lol!)

Wrap tiny sausages with bacon, half a strip. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake 20-25 minutes @ 375degrees. Serve with toothpick stuck in each one. Delish

Stuffed cherry tomatoes - colorful and delicious. Can vary what is used to stuff them.

Take Deli Sliced Ham, spread with cream cheese place a few black olive slices on, then roll into logs. serve with crackers.Easy, quick and fun

Need Appetizer
 

Hi Sandra, Here is an appetizer which is really pretty and easy

Large Stalk of Celery
Bite-Sizes of Cheese,
Carrot Sticks or Baby Carrots
On a Bed of Lettuce

Use a large plate or platter.
Lay the celery on the bed of Lettuce.
Lay cheese chunks, carrots,anything you want on the celery. A group of 3 or 5 items look great.

I have seen it with just 1 large stalk of celery, but don't know why more than 1 couldn't used.

I am taking this to our Guild Christmas Party!

Good Luck!
Mariah

I have had similar. Cream cheese holds it together. Tasty!!

Thanks everyone! I know that I can always count on you for help. Sandra

My favorite is a Pioneer Woman's treat. Easy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/f...on_appetizers/

Love the Pioneer Woman treats but when I make them I use finely grated Colby Jack cheese and add slivered olives and sweet hot peppers since I don't care for Parmesan cheese. Also, I bake them and on a rack so they aren't as greesy. They are always a hit and I never have leftovers!

I use Oscar Mayer Thin bacon. It's very thin and not greasy at all. It's hard to find. When I do find it I stock a lot in the freezer. I make my own bacon bits from it.

I am a big fan of recipegoldmine.com. That place always has such great recipes.

How about bacon wrapped scallops. This recipes serves 4-8 people.
1 lb Bacon
20+ Scallops
1 tsp Smoked Paprika


Preheat oven to 425°F.
Rinse scallops under cold water.
Cut bacon strips in half.
Wrap each scallop with 1/2 strip of bacon.
Skewer 2–3 bacon-wrapped scallops per skewer.
Sprinkle with smoked paprika, seasoning both sides.
Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes.
Flip, then bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Serve on the skewers or individually stuck on a toothpick.

Jan in VA